shouldand　talk　to　you　longer　than
  they　shouldand　go　away　looking　self…
  satisfied！''　she　replied　brokenly；　much
  as　a　little　girl　tells　of　the　theft　of　her
  doll。
  ‘‘Nonsense；''　he　said；　smiling；　‘‘that
  is　all　part　of　my　profession；　it　is　not
  me　they　care　for；　it　is　the　music　I
  give　that　makes　them　happy。　If；　in　my
  playing；　I　achieve　results　out　of　the
  common；　they　admire　me！''　and　he　kissed
  away　the　unwelcome　tears。
  ‘‘I　know；''　she　continued；　‘‘but
  lately；　since　we　have　loved　each　other；
  I　can　not　bear　to　see　a　woman　near
  you。　In　my　dreams　again　and　again
  an　indefinable　shadow　mockingly　comes；
  and　cries　to　me；　‘he　is　not　to　be　yours；
  he　is　to　be　mine。'　''
  Diotti　flushed　and　drew　her　to　him
  ‘‘Darling；''　his　voice　carrying　conviction；
  ‘‘I　am　yours；　you　are　mine；　all　in
  all；　in　life　here　and　beyond！''　And　as
  she　sat　dreaming　after　he　had　gone；　she
  murmured　petulantly；　‘‘I　wish　there
  were　no　other　women　in　the　world。''
  Her　father　was　expected　from　Europe
  on　the　succeeding　day's　steamer。　Mr。
  Wallace　was　a　busy　man。　The　various
  gigantic　enterprises　he　served　as　president
  or　director　occupied　most　of　his
  time。　He　had　been　absent　in　Europe
  for　several　months；　and　Mildred　was
  anxiously　awaiting　his　return　to　tell　him
  of　her　love。
  When　Mr。　Wallace　came　to　his　residence
  the　next　morning；　his　daughter
  met　him　with　a　fond　display　of　filial
  affection；　they　walked　into　the　drawing…
  room；　hand　in　hand；　he　saw　a　picture
  of　the　violinist　on　the　piano。　‘‘Who's
  the　handsome　young　fellow？''　he　asked；
  looking　at　the　portrait　with　the　satisfaction
  a　man　feels　when　he　sees　a　splendid
  type　of　his　own　sex。
  ‘‘That　is　Angelo　Diotti；　the　famous
  violinist；''　she　said；　but　she　could　not
  add　another　word。
  As　they　strolled　through　the　rooms
  he　noticed　no　less　than　three　likenesses
  of　the　Tuscan。　And　as　they　passed　her
  room　he　saw　still　another　on　the　chiffonnier。
  ‘‘Seems　to　me　the　house　is　running　wild　with
  photographs　of　that　fiddler；''　he　said。
  For　the　first　time　in　her　life　she　was
  self…conscious：　‘‘I　will　wait　for　a　more
  opportune　time　to　tell　him；''　she　thought。
  In　the　scheme　of　Diotti's　appearance
  in　New　York　there　were　to　be　two
  more　concerts。　One　was　to　be　given
  that　evening。　Mildred　coaxed　her
  father　to　accompany　her　to　hear　the
  violinist。　Mr。　Wallace　was　not　fond
  of　music；　‘‘it　had　been　knocked　out　of
  him　on　the　farm　up　in　Vermont；　when
  he　was　a　boy；''　he　would　apologetically
  explain；　and　besides　he　had　the　old
  puritanical　abhorrence　of　stage　people
  putting　them　all　in　one　classas　puppets
  who　danced　for　played　or　talked　for　an
  idle　and　unthinking　public。
  So　it　was　with　the　thought　of　a
  wasted　evening　that　he　accompanied
  Mildred　to　the　concert。
  The　entertainment　was　a　repetition
  of　the　others　Diotti　had　given；　and　at
  its　end；　Mildred　said　to　her　father：
  ‘‘Come；　I　want　to　congratulate　Signor
  Diotti　in　person。''
  ‘‘That　is　entirely　unnecessary；''　he
  replied。
  ‘‘It　is　my　desire；''　and　the　girl　led
  the　unwilling　parent　back　of　the　scenes
  and　into　Diotti's　dressing…room。
  Mildred　introduced　Diotti　to　her
  father；　who　after　a　few　commonplaces
  lapsed　into　silence。　The　daughter's
  enthusiastic　interest　in　Diotti's　performance
  and　her　tender　solicitude　for　his
  weariness　after　the　efforts　of　the　evening；
  quickly　attracted　the　attention　of
  Mr。　Wallace　and　irritated　him　exceedingly。
  When　father　and　daughter　were
  seated　in　their　carriage　and　were　hurriedly
  driving　home；　he　said：　‘‘Mildred；
  I　prefer　that　you　have　as　little　to　say　to
  that　man　as　possible。''
  ‘‘What　do　you　object　to　in　him？''
  she　asked。
  ‘‘Everything。　Of　what　use　is　a　man
  who　dawdles　away　his　time　on　a　fiddle；
  of　what　benefit　is　he　to　mankind？　Do
  fiddlers　build　cities？　Do　they　delve　into
  the　earth　for　precious　metals？　Do　they
  sow　the　seed　and　harvest　the　grain？
  No；　no；　they　are　dronesthe　barnacles
  of　society。''
  ‘‘Father；　how　can　you　advance　such
  an　argument？　Music's　votaries　offer　no
  apologies　for　their　art。　The　husbandman
  places　the　grain　within　the　breast
  of　Mother　Earth　for　man's　material
  welfare；　God　places　music　in　the　heart　of
  man　for　his　spiritual　development。　In
  man's　spring　time；　his　bridal　day；　music
  means　joy。　In　man's　winter　time；
  his　burial　day；　music　means　comfort。
  The　heaven…born　muse　has　added　to　the
  happiness　of　the　world。　Diotti　is　a
  great　genius。　His　art　brings　rest　and
  tranquillity　to　the　wearied　and　despairing；''
  and　she　did　not　speak　again　until
  they　had　reached　the　house。
  The　lights　were　turned　low　when
  father　and　daughter　went　into　the
  drawing…room。　Mr。　Wallace　felt　that
  he　had　failed　to　convince　Mildred　of　the
  utter　worthlessness　of　fiddlers；　big　or
  little；　and　as　one　dissatisfied　with　the
  outcome　of　a　contest；　re…entered　the
  lists。
  ‘‘He　has　visited　you？''
  ‘‘Yes；　father。''
  ‘‘Often？''
  ‘‘Yes；　father；''　spoken　calmly。
  ‘‘Often？''　louder　and　more　imperiously
  repeated　the　father；　as　if　there
  must　be　some　mistake。
  ‘‘Quite　often；''　and　she　sat　down；
  knowing　the　catechizing　would　be　likely
  to　continue　for　some　minutes。
  ‘‘How　many　times；　do　you　think？''
  She　rose；　walked　into　the　hallway；
  took　the　card　basket　from　the　table；
  returned　and　seated　herself　beside　her
  father；　emptying　its　contents　into　her
  lap。　She　picked　up　a　card。　It　read
  ‘‘Angelo　Diotti；''　and　she　called　the
  name　aloud。　She　took　up　another　and
  again　her　lips　voiced　the　beloved　name。
  ‘‘Angelo　Diotti；''　she　continued；　repeating
  at　intervals　for　a　minute。　Then
  looking　at　her　father：　‘‘He　has　called
  thirty…two　times；　there　are　thirty…one
  cards　here　and　on　one　occasion　he　forgot
  his　card…case。''
  ‘‘Thirty…two！''　said　the　father；　rising
  angrily　and　pacing　the　floor。
  ‘‘Yes；　thirty…two。　I　remember　all
  of　them　distinctly。''
  Her　father　came　over　to　her；　half
  coaxingly；　half　seriously。　‘‘Mildred；　I
  wish　his　visits　to　cease；　people　will
  imagine　there　is　a　romantic　attachment
  between　you。''
  ‘‘There　is；　father；''　out　it　came；　‘‘he
  loves　me　and　I　love　him。''
  ‘‘What！''　shouted　Mr。　Wallace；　and
  then　severely；　‘‘this　must　cease　immediately。''
  She　rose　quietly　and　led　her　father
  over　to　the　mantel。　Placing　a　hand　on
  each　of　his　shoulders　she　said：
  ‘‘Father；　I　will　obey　you　implicitly
  if　you　can　name　a　reasonable　objection
  to　the　man　I　love。　But　you　can　not。
  I　love　him　with　my　whole　soul。　I　love
  him　for　the　nobility　of　his　character；
  and　because　there　is　none　other　in　the
  world　for　him；　nor　for　me。''
  IX
  Old　Sanders　as　boy　and　man
  had　been　in　the　employ　of　the
  banking　and　brokerage　firm　of　Wallace
  Brothers　for　two　generations。　The　firm
  gradually　had　advanced　his　position　until
  now　he　was　confidential　adviser　and
  general　manager；　besides　having　an
  interest　in　the　profits　of　the　business。
  He　enjoyed　the　friendship　of　Mr。
  Wallace；　and　had　been　a　constant　visitor
  at　his　house　from　the　first　days　of
  that　gentleman's　married　life。　He　himself
  was　alone　in　the　world；　a　confirmed
  bachelor。　He　had　seen　Mildred　creep
  from　babyhood　into　childhood；　and　bud
  from　girlhood　to　womanhood。　To　Mildred
  he　was　one　of　that　numerous　army
  of　brevet　relations　known　as　‘‘gran…
  pop；''　‘‘pop；''　or　‘‘uncle。''　To　her　he
  was　Uncle　Sanders。
  If　the　old　man　had　one　touch　of　human
  nature　in　him　it　was　a　solicitude
  for　Mildred's　futurean　authority　arrogated
  to　himselfto　see　that　she　married
  the　right　man；　but　even　that　was
  directed　to　her　material　gain　in　this
  world's　goods；　and　not　to　any　sentimental
  consideration　for　her　happiness。
  He　flattered　himself　that　by　timely
  suggestion　he　had　‘‘stumped''　at　least　half
  a　dozen　would…be　candidates　for　Mildred's
  hand。　He　pooh…poohed　love　as　a
  necessity　for　marital　felicity；　and　would
  enforce　his　argument　by　quoting　from
  the　bard：
  ‘‘All　lovers　swear　more　performance
  than　they　are　able；　and　yet　reserve　an
  ability　that　they　never　perform；　vowing
  more　than　the　perfection　of　ten；　and
  discharging　less　than　the　tenth　part　of　one。''
  ‘‘You　can　get　at　a　man's　income；''
  he　would　say；　‘‘but　not　at　his　heart。
  Love　without　money　won't　travel　as　far
  as　money　without　love；''　and　many
  married　people　whose　bills　were　overdue
  wondered　if　the　old　fellow　was
  not　right。
  He　was　cold…blooded　and　generally
  disliked　by　the　men　under　him。　The
  more　evil…minded　gossips　in　the　bank
  said　he　was　in　league　with　‘‘Old
  Nick。''　That；　of　course；　was　absurd；
  for　it　does　not　necessarily　follow；
  because　a　man　suggests　a　means　looking
  to　an　end；　disreputable　though　it　be；
  that　he　has　Mephistopheles　for　a　silent
  partner。　The　conservative　element
  among　the　employees　would　not　openly
  venture　so　far；　but　rather　thought　if　hi